Understanding the different types of project complexities and why they occur
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 4:03 am
Not all projects fail for the same reasons. There are several factors that can complicate a project manager's job and affect the performance of the project team.
1. Structural complexity
Structural complexity occurs when a project has many interconnected components, each susceptible to change.
These interdependencies often involve unknowns or rapidly changing information, which can add layers of complexity to project management.
Imagine, for example, an infrastructure project where each phase is managed by a different contractor with separate contracts.
If one phase changes, the terms of other phases may need to be renegotiated. This can australia school email list cause tension and stress as each component must be realigned to keep the project cohesive.
Read also How to Master Project Management for Startups
2. Technical complexity
Suppose you start a project to build a new software platform.
Halfway through, you discover that the technology you planned to use can't handle the scale you need, or maybe a critical tool isn't as supported as you thought.
Now you are forced to look for new solutions, and each solution adds time and costs.
Studies show this is quite common in IT.
Many projects encounter these types of technical hurdles , causing budgets to balloon and deadlines to be missed. Even the best-prepared projects can run into problems when technology doesn't work as expected or when the team lacks the specific expertise needed to address these issues.
Read also Project Management Strategies Everyone Can Use to Increase Productivity
3. Dynamic complexity
This kind of complexity comes when you're working on something you've never done before and there's a lot of uncertainty (no, we're not talking about a midlife crisis).
Dynamic complexity occurs when the project environment or components are constantly changing.
For example, imagine you are leading a software development project for a new app, and during the project, data privacy regulations are updated. Suddenly, the app has to meet new requirements. This change could impact the project schedule, budget, and even the technology stack you are using.
In these cases, project managers need to be agile. Traditional approaches do not work: an evolutionary plan is needed that takes into account uncertainty and constant change.
1. Structural complexity
Structural complexity occurs when a project has many interconnected components, each susceptible to change.
These interdependencies often involve unknowns or rapidly changing information, which can add layers of complexity to project management.
Imagine, for example, an infrastructure project where each phase is managed by a different contractor with separate contracts.
If one phase changes, the terms of other phases may need to be renegotiated. This can australia school email list cause tension and stress as each component must be realigned to keep the project cohesive.
Read also How to Master Project Management for Startups
2. Technical complexity
Suppose you start a project to build a new software platform.
Halfway through, you discover that the technology you planned to use can't handle the scale you need, or maybe a critical tool isn't as supported as you thought.
Now you are forced to look for new solutions, and each solution adds time and costs.
Studies show this is quite common in IT.
Many projects encounter these types of technical hurdles , causing budgets to balloon and deadlines to be missed. Even the best-prepared projects can run into problems when technology doesn't work as expected or when the team lacks the specific expertise needed to address these issues.
Read also Project Management Strategies Everyone Can Use to Increase Productivity
3. Dynamic complexity
This kind of complexity comes when you're working on something you've never done before and there's a lot of uncertainty (no, we're not talking about a midlife crisis).
Dynamic complexity occurs when the project environment or components are constantly changing.
For example, imagine you are leading a software development project for a new app, and during the project, data privacy regulations are updated. Suddenly, the app has to meet new requirements. This change could impact the project schedule, budget, and even the technology stack you are using.
In these cases, project managers need to be agile. Traditional approaches do not work: an evolutionary plan is needed that takes into account uncertainty and constant change.